The **OFFICIAL** October 2006 Who's Who (and Who's going)

[Deah]

HI! I used this board three years ago when I went to WDW and now I plan on going October 2-7!!! YAY

 

[princesssonny]

Our gang will be going from 9/30-10/8 staying at POP CENTURY. This includes my DH, and DS4. My friend, her DBF, DD9 and DS7. Her DBF's Mom, Dad, Neice 12, and Nephew 6. And finally her DBF's sister and her mom. Should be interesting with that large of a group. Wondering if anyone has ever done any of the grand gathering experiences and if they are worth it?

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Hi Deah , Princesssonny & MNRMommy

Welcome to the October list!!

MNRMommy,Oh your going to LOVE WL !!! We stayed there for the first time in 2004,it was awesome!

Deah, planning is the best part of WDW to me!! Where will you be staying this time?

Princesssonny, Its always just been the 4 of us traveling so I'm afraid I can't help with large group info, but I'm sure someone here can.
The only thing I can think of is that it would probably be smart to do alot of planning ahead of time so you don't waste time trying to figure out what everyone wants to do. I have a friend who does Disney with a large family, and they actually hold Disney planning sessions ahead of time.
Maybe that could work for you?

~Chris

 

[princesssonny]

Thanks for the planning advice. I like to say I am pretty good at it now, but who knows. This will be my third trip and my DH refers to me as the Disney Nazi. I plan all ADR's of course along with daily activities down to scheduling each parks ride by ride. I know the best way to get the most is to go in with a good plan of attack. Fortunately, other than us three it will be all of the others first times and my friend has entrusted me with all the scheduling so no arguing hooray. She tells me to plan it and they will do it lol. I am only concerned about ADR's with such a large group.

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

princesssonny -

You have taken on quite a task for yourself - far braver than I! EEK!

I have never done a grand gathering or trip with a large group myself. I am always fascinated by those who manage to pull it off (without self-inflicting mutilation!) The idea I have read about that made the most sense to me was scheduling both group activities as well as non-group time. That is, specifically setting time aside for the big group to break up into smaller groups to do what appealed to them most. I think I even read about someone preparing a questionnaire to try and figure out what the various people were most interested in seeing/doing/eating. You may want to post the question on various forums (Theme Park Strategies and Dis for Families come to mind) and see what kind of response you get. In the end, you get to pick what you think would work best for you anyway! Best of luck in the planning- ADRs can be made as early as Monday for you - but no pressure!

Amy

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I'm planning a GG for October 3-9, and Whew! It's fun, but time consuming. Don't know if you're aware of it or not, but disneyworld.com has a free software download to help with planning.

I agree that it is important to plan some time when the group is not all together. I have done WDW with a group of 8, and after 3 days, we were pretty tired of each other. It was nice to break off into a couple of mini-gatherings...and what fun talking about our adventures over breakfast!

Have fun planning!

 

[Corryn]

Just a caution on planning:
It is a fact that most people would rather follow than lead. With that thought I took it upon myself to send all the information I could to the families (my friends) that were traveling with us on our Land/Sea cruise last April. I figured everyone would be on board with different activities, but when we got down there, the story changed.
Me and my family are theme park addicts - of course, Disney is our favorite. Because we're Disney addicts (this October will be my 12th trip) everyone in the group looked to me and that's why I took on the role. I enjoyed checking out all these posts and sending the information over to my friends. We had at least 4 different meetings before the trip discussing things to do. Everyone was excited.
But most of these people are c@mpers and when they c@mp, they hang around and sit in a lawn chair all day - I know because I go c@mping with them. It is very frustrating just sitting around all day.
So while we're dashing here and there, we were noticing that a lot of people in our group were just big grumps. They were miserable as they walked around the parks. I think part of it had to do with the heat, but also some of them just did not like the crowds (and it wasn't even that crowded). I got the message the first day and I let go. I figured I wasn't going to get pissed off at something I couldn't control.
Instead, I focused on my immediate family and our best friends. While the spouses and families of the grumps were getting upset and looking for what to do, I just ignored it. It was out of my control. It was up to the miserable grumps to make their families happy.
I spent just as much money as they did on the trip. We spent thousands of dollars and I work every day and I enjoy and appreciate my vacations. If they wanted to make it miserable for their family, that's their problem. I was not going to let it seep in and make my trip or my family's good time into a miserable time. That might sound harsh, but that's how I am.
I offered them all sorts of information, especially info I had gleaned from this forum. It was obvious the families did not look at it before hand (they probably deleted it) or they wouldn't be standing around wondering what to do.
We had 13 families (66 people in all). I gave it a shot, I sprinkled pixie dust over them for a whole year before the actual trip. It was disappointing on that end that I couldn't "make" everyone have a good time. Just take it in stride if not everyone feels as you do and don't get upset if it happens.


But I wish you luck

 

[bazzanoid]

Going 1st - 15th, staying in a villa at the Doral Woods community, very nice!!!! Not planning on MNSSHP at the moment, but you never know....! Taking DFriend for the first time, looking forward to her face for that first magical sighting of the castle.....

 

[princesssonny]

WOW! 66 people I don't think I would even take that on. I am having a difficult time with 13. I have been finding out from everyone about food choices making sure no one is picky. We have a pretty open policy about it beforehand which is good. We have made everyone aware that if there is grumpiness they will be left behind. I am with you, i work every day so I definitely appreciate my vacations and will let no one else spoil it. We are also theme park addicts and have a go go go attitude when it comes to Disney. I am an optimist so I think everything will be ok. The parents have already told us if they get tired they have no problem letting us take all the kids and keep going so that is good. I want everyone to have a great time, but as you said once you get there it is really up to them and what they make of it. I want magic, hopefully they do to.

 

[Hockeychic]

Hi I am coming. Short stay before our cruise.

October 27 - 29th. Staying at POP.

Did MNSSHP last year it was so much fun.

Kim

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Hello Hockeychic !


Ahhh,a cruise!! You lucky girl!And you'll be arriving the same day we do.
Someday we would like to try a cruise to!

 

[lovemyalbum]

Thanks for putting this together. OUr Family will be at WL October 22-28. We are celebrating out 10 year anniv and 4 birthdays. First trip for DH and both DD's

 

[fanofpan]

We will be there Oct 7-14 with most of DH's family, there will be 14 of us going. While we are there my niece will be celebrating her 14th birthday and dh and I will be celebrating our 19 year anniversary with a little get away celebration at the hoop dee doo, I sure hope it is as fun as everyone say's it is. We are also going to MNSSHP, but the kids don't know about that yet, I am going to send them invitations to the party after we get the tickets.
Best Wishes

 

[TR Denise]

We're going Oct 22-29th. At OKW right now buthoping for BWV. We plan on doing MNSSHP not sure of the day
Denise

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

Please add our MNSSHP date 10/24, thanks

 

[DebIreland]

OP

Our dates and info have changed slightly from what's on the list now...
"10/25 - 11/10 . BWV (hopefully!!!!)"
to
10/24 - 11/9. ASMO & BWV. MNSSHP 10/31/06

And the 'hopefully' no longer applies as it's definite now!!
Thanks GA for maintaining this thread!

 

[mphsgirl]

We are going Oct 16-23 staying at CBR. Hoping to go to MNSSHP on Oct 17th! This is the first trip for us. I am so excited! The kids don't know yet and it hard to not tell them!

 

[beccawes7471]

It's official! We will be heading back 10/21/06-10/27/06, staying at OKW. Hoping to head to our first MNSSHP on 10/22 or 10/24. Cannot wait to spend our first halloween with the Mouse Can't wait! We are keeping it a suprise from ds 6, who last night was rooting for the Gators b/c "they're in Florida, where Disney World is."

 

[BamaBaloo]

Just changed from December to Sept. 28th - Oct. 7th! Couldn't resist the free dining.

We will be at Coronado Springs, and we will be at MNSSHP on October 2nd.

 

[SnowWhite]

Staying at the POP with FREE DINING!!!!!!!!